Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) catches a touchdown pass in front of Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (23) during the second half of play at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday, November 11, 2012. The Cowboys won 38-23.

Special teams had many costly mistakes this season before Harris touchdown

PHILADELPHIA — The complexion of the game changed in a matter of seconds, the time it took for Dwayne Harris to zip through a narrow alley between a wall of blockers and the Cowboys’ sideline Sunday.

As Harris streaked 78 yards to the end zone Sunday, safety Danny McCray began celebrating the punt return touchdown that gave the Cowboys a lead they would never relinquish in a 38-23 victory over Philadelphia.

“I was hyped,” McCray said.

So were his teammates and coach Jason Garrett, who hugged Harris immediately.

“It was a great play,” Garrett said.

And yet everything about it was so unexpected — the end result, the player who made it and the unit involved. After all, the last time a Cowboy returned a punt for a touchdown was Nov. 21, 2010, when Bryan McCann did it against Detroit.

That Harris became the next player to pull off the feat was surprising considering he wasn’t the team’s primary returner until earlier this month and was only given the job because Dez Bryant had failed so miserably.

Bryant’s fumble in a loss to the New York Giants on Oct. 28 was one of several gaffes committed by the Cowboys’ special teams — a group of units that has been considered a liability for much of the season. The lowlights have included a 108-yard kickoff return surrendered to Baltimore, a punt block that resulted in a touchdown against Seattle and a fumble on the opening kickoff against the Seahawks that immediately hurt the Cowboys in a game they would lose by 20 points.

The mistakes were manifold and costly.

And Sunday, the Cowboys nearly added another one to their ledger. After Philadelphia had seized a 14-10 lead early in the third quarter, Lance Dunbar fielded the ensuing kickoff in the end zone and returned it 17 yards before being blindsided by Colt Anderson. The ball popped loose at Dallas’ 14-yard line, but the Cowboys’ Eric Frampton pounced on it.

“I was at the right place at the right time,” said Frampton, who was acquired Sept. 25.

The Cowboys were glad he was.

“That’s why we got him,” McCray said. “He’s a savior.”

On this day he was. His recovery, in many ways, helped set the stage for Harris’ big return that few saw coming with the possible exception of special teams coach Joe DeCamillis. As the Cowboys’ coverage and return units have gone through trials and tribulations this season, DeCamillis has offered words of encouragement.

His message was simple.

“Just be positive,” Harris said DeCamillis told the players. “The big plays will come if everybody does their job.”

That’s what happened Sunday. With 13:52 left in the game, Harris made his mark, receiving blocks from his teammates along the way to the end zone. Orlando Scandrick made one. McCray picked up another one, shoving punter Mat McBriar out of the way. Then Harris, who returned a punt 37 yards against Atlanta last week, did the rest. He motored full speed, changing the momentum of a game and perhaps a season.

“It feels great to give my team an opportunity to get a win,” Harris said. “We always say, ‘Special teams has got to make a big play.’”

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